Request for Information on New Zealand’s Stance Regarding ICC Arrest Warrant for Israeli Prime Minister and Ongoing Relations with Israel

Yasir Shaikh made this Official Information request to Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Currently waiting for a response from Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, they must respond promptly and normally no later than (details and exceptions).

From: Yasir Shaikh

Dear Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade,

Under the Official Information Act 1982, I am writing to request information regarding New Zealand’s position and actions concerning the following matters:

International Criminal Court (ICC) Arrest Warrant:

1. Does the New Zealand Government recognize and accept the decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu?

2. If Prime Minister Netanyahu were to visit New Zealand, would the New Zealand Government execute the ICC arrest warrant as per its legal obligations under the Rome Statute? If not, please provide a detailed explanation for this decision.
Trade and Business Transactions with Israel:

3. Given the arrest warrant issued by the ICC, is New Zealand currently engaged in trade or business transactions with Israel?
If such engagements continue, please explain the reasoning behind this policy, especially in light of the warrant against Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Foreign Relations and International Commitments:

1. Has the New Zealand Government made any formal statements or taken any specific actions in response to the ICC’s decision to issue the arrest warrant for Prime Minister Netanyahu?
2. How does the New Zealand Government balance its international legal obligations with its ongoing diplomatic and economic relations with Israel?

I request that the information be provided in electronic format, and I would appreciate a response within the statutory timeframe outlined in the Official Information Act.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely,

Yasir Shaikh

Link to this

From: ENQUIRIES
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

[UNCLASSIFIED]

Kia ora and thank you for your email.

If you are a New Zealand citizen overseas needing urgent assistance you
should call the 24/7 Consular emergency line on 0800 30 10 30 or +64 99 20
20 20

 

For enquiries regarding:
• Advice for New Zealanders living and travelling overseas – visit Home |
[1]https://www.safetravel.govt.nz/
• New Zealand Scholarships - email [email address]
• MFAT Vacancies - visit our website at:
[2]https://vacancies.mfat.govt.nz/.
• MFAT Graduate Programme - email: [email address].
• New Zealand visas, asylum and other immigrations matters - contact
Immigration New Zealand, by emailing
[email address] or visit the Immigration New
Zealand website at: [3]https://www.immigration.govt.nz/ revised
• Visas for other countries - contact the relevant foreign representative
to New Zealand. A full list is available at
[4]https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/embassies/.
• New Zealand passports - visit the Internal Affairs website at:
[5]www.passports.govt.nz.
• New Zealand citizenship - visit the Internal Affairs website at:
[6]www.dia.govt.nz/New-Zealand-citizenship.
• Authentication of documents and Apostilles - visit the Internal Affairs
website at: [7]www.dia.govt.nz/document-authentication.
• Bringing goods into New Zealand - visit the New Zealand Customs website
at: [8]www.customs.govt.nz.
• NZ suppliers or companies - visit the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise
website at: [9]www.nzte.govt.nz.
• To attest fingerprints - visit
[10]https://www.police.govt.nz/faq/having-fi...
For all other enquiries, you will receive a response in due course.

show quoted sections

Link to this

From: ENQUIRIES
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

[UNCLASSIFIED]

Kia ora Yasir Shaikh

Thank you for your OIA request received on 22 November 2024 for:

1. Does the New Zealand Government recognize and accept the decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu?

2. If Prime Minister Netanyahu were to visit New Zealand, would the New Zealand Government execute the ICC arrest warrant as per its legal obligations under the Rome Statute? If not, please provide a detailed explanation for this decision.
Trade and Business Transactions with Israel:

3. Given the arrest warrant issued by the ICC, is New Zealand currently engaged in trade or business transactions with Israel?
If such engagements continue, please explain the reasoning behind this policy, especially in light of the warrant against Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Foreign Relations and International Commitments:

1. Has the New Zealand Government made any formal statements or taken any specific actions in response to the ICC’s decision to issue the arrest warrant for Prime Minister Netanyahu?
2. How does the New Zealand Government balance its international legal obligations with its ongoing diplomatic and economic relations with Israel?

This email confirms receipt of your request and advises that we will respond to it as soon as reasonably practicable, and in terms of the timeframes and requirements of the OIA.

Please note that our response letter to you (with your personal details redacted), and any enclosed documents, may be published on the Ministry’s website.

Ngā mihi

Executive Services Division
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade | Manatū Aorere

show quoted sections

Link to this

Things to do with this request

Anyone:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade only: